THE IDENTITY AND PHARMACOGNOSY OF THE ADULTERANT OF NARDOSTACHZYS JATAMANSI DC.

Summary

Pharmacognostic studies of the commercial samples of Nardostachys jatamansi DC. were carried out by Mehr a and Gar g (1962) which on comparison with the authentic specimens revealed to contain an adulterant very similar to the drug in external apearance. This has turned out to be the rhizome of an Umbellifer, Selinum vaginalum C. B. Clarke, This plant grows commonly from Kashmir to Kumaon at an altitude of 1,825–3,650 meters and is easily available. The rhizome is covered with a dense tuft of bristly fibres which represent the skeletal remains of leaf bases an in N. jatamansi. Microscopically, however, the two can be easily distinguished. Secretory canals lined with epithelial cells are present in the ground tissue of the rhizome and root of S. vaginatum, a character typical of the Umbelliferae, but are absent in N. jatamansi. The aggregation of yellowish acicular crystals in the parenchymatous cells in almost all the parts of S. vaginatum is a further criterion of great diagnostic value lacking in the genuine drug. Other important features of distinction are the absence of interxylary and medullary cork characteristic of the mature rhizome of N. jatamansi in the adulterant. There are no broad xylem and phloem rays in Nardostachys such as characterise the rhizome of the adulterant. The drug described as Nardostachys jatamansi by Datta and Mukerji (1950) is in reality Selinum vaginatum.

Zusammenfassung

In der Handelsdroge Nardostachys jatamansi kommt eine Verfälschung vor, die der echten Droge sehr ähnlich sieht. Sie wurde als die Umbellifere Selinum vaginatum bestimmt. Ihre Morphologie und Anatomie wie die Unterscheidungsmerkmale werden beschrieben.